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One of the hardest things to deal with as a black student at BYU are the subtle ways that white supremacy inserts itself into campus culture. This flavor of white supremacy began with what Brigham Young taught about black people and has been built upon by years of discrimination. https://twitter.com/BYU/status/1283812143301713921
Everything from the “unfaithful in the pre-existence” doctrine, to anti-miscegenation teachings, to “whiteness upon resurrection” teachings have compounded and installed white supremacy into the fibers of our culture as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Few results of these ideologies have been addressed in substantive ways. I have been happy to see blanket condemnations of white supremacy, but this does little to identify and prevent specific thoughts and actions from being perpetrated and perpetuated.
BYU must aggressively counter lingering results of racist and white supremacist teachings
Some are students openly denouncing interracial marriage, professors and students dismissing realities around racism, professors’ and students’ perception that students of color don’t belong
Some are students openly denouncing interracial marriage, professors and students dismissing realities around racism, professors’ and students’ perception that students of color don’t belong
It is often assumed that students of color are only at BYU because of athletics or affirmative action, I have personally been told that the only reason I was accepted as an undergraduate was because I am black.
Othering like this is motivated by white supremacy; it does immense damage to the identities of students of color as members of the church and as cougars
However, it is not only for the comfort and belonging of students of color that I ask BYU to actively counter white supremacy
However, it is not only for the comfort and belonging of students of color that I ask BYU to actively counter white supremacy
I believe that perpetrators of white supremacy suffer great moral damage. Their inability to see non-white people as equals handicaps every aspect of their character, and cannot be ignored because of other favorable qualities.
The fundamental lack of empathy caused by white supremacist thinking creates a deficit of Christ-like values that cannot be earned without active, conscious disavowal of white supremacy, and this disavowal is incomplete without comprehensive efforts to repair damage done.
This also applies to organizations, especially the school and church. True repentance cannot be void of reparation, and the deficits of Christ-like character created by white supremacy cannot be overcome without addressing the ways in which this school has harmed people of color.
This includes but is not limited to the following things: educating students and professors on the sordid history of prominent figures associated with the university; removing memorials to figures that have significantly contributed to white supremacy within church culture
hold forums, panels, and other activities which promote constructive conversation among students and between students and faculty about race
find ways to incorporate non-white culture, including memorializing non-white/anti-racist figures associated with the university
find ways to incorporate non-white culture, including memorializing non-white/anti-racist figures associated with the university
I hope that the school recognizes how whiteness has become central to Latter Day Saint and cougar identity, and that school leadership will work to undo the injustices caused by this, and all, forms of white supremacy.
